Denver Zoo Asian Tropics

Denver Zoo continues construction on "Asian Tropics", and a separate press release last week stated that spring 2012 is still the completion date on this enormous, $50 million complex. The latest article on the zoo's website mentions that there will be a total of 7 buildings in this section of the zoo, 4 pools, and a flying fox enclosure that will alow visitors in with the bats:

Denver Zoo: Asian Tropics - Update12
 
I, like many other American ZooChatters, am eagerly awaiting the spring 2012 opening of "Asian Tropics", as the Denver Zoo already has several top-notch complexes such as Primate Panorama, Predator Ridge, Northern Shores and Tropical Discovery. By looking at the 2006 map (from my solitary visit) in comparison to the zoo's updated map the multi-acre Asian Tropics has meant that 10 enclosures at the zoo have had to be demolished. A cougar cage (I remember it as a particularly awful exhibit), the Bird Garden area, and exactly 8 hoofstock paddocks have had to make way for the new Asian zone.

April update for the zoo's ambitious $50 million project:

Denver Zoo: Asian Tropics - Update19

Denver Zoo map:

http://www.denverzoo.org/downloads/2011_dzoo_map_sm.pdf

Asian Tropics Map:

Denver Zoo: Asian Tropics
 
From press releases it would seem that the $50 million Asian Tropics complex is nearing completion, and some animals have even begun to move to the zoo (most recently was clouded leopards). Late spring 2012 is the opening date for this 10-acre zone, and it seems as if it will even surpass 2004's Predator Ridge for sheer magnificence. Some innovative ideas such as gibbons brachiating over the heads of visitors and the rotating Malayan tapirs, Asian elephants and Indian rhinos are trend-setting and hopefully the final product is outstanding. As of next year the zoo will have Asian Tropics, Predator Ridge, the 7-acre, 30 species Primate Panorama, Northern Shores and Tropical Discovery, and how many American zoos have 5 superior exhibit complexes?

The zoo's website has some updated construction photos from September:

Denver Zoo: Asian Tropics -Construction Updates

Asian Tropics Map:

http://denverzoo.org/downloads/dzoo_at_map.pdf
 
Looking at the map linked above, I don't think I have ever seen so many different corprorate and foundation donor names on one piece of paper in my life. :eek:

(Not that I mind - if that is what it takes to build a great exhibit, I am all for it).
 
Pachyderms are my favorite animals at any zoo, so this exhibit sounds like a must-see to me. With the incredible collection and multitude of awesome exhibit complexes, and even more on the way, I will be sure to visit Denver Zoo in the future.
 
Denver Zoo has a history of opening mega-exhibit complexes every few years instead of smaller, annual improvements. Some zoos (like Omaha and Columbus) seem to debut a brand new animal habitat each year, but Denver residents wait patiently for many years and then suddenly an ultra-expensive, huge zone of the zoo is transformed.

Major Exhibits (from the past 36 years):

Bird World - 1975 (It cost $1.25 million and at the time was regarded as one of the best bird complexes in America. Even today Denver has around 200 species of birds in its collection.)

Mountain Sheep Habitats - 1979 ($400,000 and featuring Dall sheep and Bighorn sheep)

Northern Shores - 1987 (3 acres of polar bears, sea lions, harbor seals, Arctic wolves, Arctic foxes, river otters, waterfowl)

Tropical Discovery - 1993 ($10 million rainforest building with a few mammals but loads of reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates plus over 200 plant species)

Primate Panorama - 1996 (7 acres and an impressive 30 species of primates from 3 different continents; some additional animal exhibits as well)

Predator Ridge & Entrance Complex - 2004 ($27 million, 14-species area; rotation exhibits for lions, spotted hyenas and African wild dogs; new entrance area and several other smaller animal exhibits)

Asian Tropics - 2012 ($50 million, 10 acre complex; rotation exhibits for Asian elephants (possibly up to 12 in the future), Malayan tapirs and Indian rhinos; fishing cats, clouded leopards, fruit bats; sarus cranes, small-clawed otters, gibbons, etc).
 
Wow we really have not payed very close attention to this project and from the sound of things its going to be incredible.We love how other pachyderms not just elephants as well as some other animals are included in this.It is everything we had originally hoped for at our home zoo with Elephant Crossing which just came off as mediocre in our opinion.Denver is no doubt on our radar for a visit next year.

Team Tapir
 
I Have just went to Denver today and will post pics of the construction as soon as I can. I'm afraid it is going to be a couple of very small exhibits.
 
snowleopard said:
Some innovative ideas such as gibbons brachiating over the heads of visitors and the rotating Malayan tapirs, Asian elephants and Indian rhinos are trend-setting and hopefully the final product is outstanding.
Click to expand...

I've looked at the zoo website and am curious about how they are planning to implement the overhead gibbon brachiation. Does anybody know? Is there a gibbon equivalent of the National Zoo's orangutan O-Line connecting different habitats? Will the gibbons only be allowed to cross at certain times like the National Zoo orangs, or will they have free access to cross anytime that they want? If will be interesting to see how this works.
 
DavidBrown said:
I've looked at the zoo website and am curious about how they are planning to implement the overhead gibbon brachiation. Does anybody know? Is there a gibbon equivalent of the National Zoo's orangutan O-Line connecting different habitats? Will the gibbons only be allowed to cross at certain times like the National Zoo orangs, or will they have free access to cross anytime that they want? If will be interesting to see how this works.
Click to expand...

The Gibbons can brachiate over the pathway, its just as large as the o-line but it is the same concept.

I saw the construction in August and I must say that I was not overly impressed with the landscaping. I did like how excited the docents were about it and how much the Denver Zoo was doing to let people know about it. There was a tower that you could climb up and look at the construction while docents explained the exhibits to you. The quality of off-exhibit space was really good and the architecture was interesting. The landscaping was just lawns but hopefully they will put in foliage soon. The clouded leopard exhibit didn't look very promising either, like it was suited for a small aviary.
 
There are loads of facts and figures about Asian Tropics on this link:

Denver Zoo finishing world-class expansion for elephants and friends - The Denver Post

Random samplings:

- there will be over 1 million gallons of water
- the zoo plans to eventually acquire a total of 8 bull elephants
- species include Asian elephants, Indian rhinos, Malayan tapirs, clouded leopards, fishing cats, flying foxes (and other bats), skinks, pythons, Solomon eyelash frogs, gibbons and small-clawed otters.
- Asian Tropics will feature a full- scale replica of a village hut destroyed by elephants reduced to marauding for food because of human encroachment on their range.
 
I'm kind of disappointed that they've chosen to go with a bull herd instead of a breeding herd. I guess once their two females die they will focus only on bulls.
 
@mstikmanp - It does make since for them to go with breeding pairs because of their status but then again, once zoos breed more elephants, what are they going to do with their males. Most zoos don't have the right set up for a male elephant. In my opinion, even though we wont be seeing any babies, it will still serve as a good purpose in conservation for suppling zoos with breed able males.
 
At least I am thankful that a zoo in the US is establishing a herd of young bull elephants. It has already become common practice in Europe ... :D
 
The zoo's two female elephants have been moved to their new home.

Denver Zoo elephants make high-flying move into new habitat - The Denver Post

And as you'll notice in the article, "Asian Tropics" is now called "Toyota Elephant Passage." The reason is because Toyota spent $5.4 million to name the exhibit. In my opinion, I liked the "Asian Tropics" name better because it seemed to bring a sense of immersion to the exhibit and was a good way to tie the exhibits together, if you know what I mean.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top